How Long Does Miso Soup Last? Find Out!
Miso soup is a popular comfort meal and soup from Japan that is simple to make and is regarded as one of the healthiest soups in Japan and the rest of the globe due to its high content of antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, and proteins. Most recipes don’t call for a lot of miso soup, so if you bought some at the supermarket or a restaurant, you might be left with some extra and ask, “How long does miso soup last?”
Understanding the miso soup’s shelf life is crucial since, if it expires, it could result in significant health problems like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, among others. In this article, you’ll learn how long Miso soup lasts in the fridge and what you can do to prevent it from spoiling.
What’s Miso Soup?
Before I go on to explain how long miso soup can last, it is important that I explain what miso soup is and state what it is made of.
Miso soup is made from dashi (fish broth), miso paste, and different kinds of vegetables (fermented soybeans, rice malt, or barley). Because there are wide varieties of it, it is versatile and highly well-liked worldwide. The soup’s rich, mature, and salty flavors come from the fermented miso paste.
Since miso paste is highly salty and has antibacterial characteristics, many assume it prevents the soup from going bad. While miso paste alone is relatively impervious to spoilage, the other ingredients in a pot of miso soup are more vulnerable to spoilage.
Miso soup offers the body essential minerals and vitamins like zinc, protein, manganese, calcium, and vitamin K, among other advantages. These minerals help the bones and the neurological system, among other structures. The high concentration of probiotics also aids digestion, the body’s immune system, cholesterol reduction, and enhancing one’s state of mind.
How Long Does Miso Soup Last?
Miso soup is a ginger-flavored soup composed of fermented soy, fish, and rice. But how long does it last?
Miso soup stays good for a long time, depending on the temperature and whether or not the can was opened. If miso is kept in the fridge, it has a lengthy shelf life. It can be kept in the refrigerator for up to a month when placed in a container or tightly covered with a lid.
The soup can be kept in the refrigerator for two to three days if it is firmly covered to prevent bacterial growth. Miso soup has a shelf life of a few hours, anything from two to six, if kept at room temperature in the pantry. Eating it right away after cooking or properly keeping it in the refrigerator is advisable.
If correctly done, freezing miso soup will preserve it for two to three months. Unopened miso soup cans won’t necessarily spoil, but they will continue to ferment and degrade over time. It is significant to remember that the soup’s shelf life will also depend on the ingredients used in preparation. Because there are wide varieties and different condiments, it is challenging to estimate how long your soup will last before it spoils.
Additionally, the longer you preserve it, the more tastes you’ll eventually lose. The timings listed above are the most reliable general guidelines, and they apply to handmade, restaurant leftover, and store-bought miso soup. Miso soup will form mold if improperly stored in tightly sealed cans or left out for an extended period owing to bacterial contamination.
As a result, always keep it in firmly sealed containers in a cool environment (under 7 degrees Celsius). The other ingredients in miso soup, such as vegetables, bean sprouts, tofu, mushrooms, and potatoes, are more prone to spoilage than miso paste, which is resistant to bacteria.
How Do You Know If Miso Went Bad?
There are several techniques to determine whether your miso soup has gone bad, including:
The miso soup is spoilt if mold or any bacterial development is present. Mold spreads through its spores. Although it’s frequently found in fruits and vegetables, mold can develop on any recently exposed surface. Check the bottom of the lid for mold or discoloration since mold can grow in unnoticed areas.
The flavor of spoiled food is bitter, sour, or fermented. It’s a good sign that your hummus has expired if it tastes sour. If you spit it out immediately, you won’t contract food poisoning. The longer miso soup sits, the sourer it will naturally get. It\ happens naturally as a result of fermentation. Nevertheless, the soup has been ruined and is unsafe to eat once it tastes quite sour.
When fresh, the aroma of miso soup is somewhat nutty. There is a sign that something has gone bad when it smells fishy. It’s preferable to be safe and toss anything that smells fishy. Throw the soup away since it spoils if the edges seem crystallized. This generally happens when it has been exposed to room temperature for a long time.
Do not eat the miso soup if it gets too thick; it has gone rotten. Long-term exposure to the air may encourage bacterial contamination, affecting its consistency. If you see one of the aforementioned symptoms in your miso soup, do not eat it because you risk getting sick from it.
Can You Freeze Miso Soup?
For a good reason, miso soup is quickly gaining popularity in the West. It’s a tasty, healthful alternative to other simple soups like ramen and chicken noodle soup. But can you freeze miso soup?
Yes, you can. But even though you can keep your miso soup in the freezer, you should keep your tofu in a different container. You can quickly defrost, boil, and eat frozen food when ready.
To freeze miso soup, seal them immediately in freezer bags, or freeze them in ice cube trays, then move them to freezer bags or airtight containers. The freezer is appropriate for long-term storage. As freezing hot miso soup will change the refrigerator’s temperature, allow it to cool first.
Once miso soup has been frozen, thawed, and reheated, you should not freeze it again. Please don’t do it again in a cycle. Dates and meals can be kept track of with the help of labels and the freezer.
Does Miso Soup Expire?
Miso soup is good for you because it boosts your immune system, decreases cholesterol, and balances your mood. This soup is made with miso paste and dashi stock and has traditional Japanese origins. So, does miso soup expire?
Yes, miso soup packets do expire. Miso that has yet to be opened will probably not go bad, although the quality will degrade with time. However, after being opened, pollutants and bacteria could enter and reduce the shelf life. Packages may have an expiration date, which is simply the manufacturer’s prediction of how long it will remain in excellent condition.
It might last longer or even expire before the indicated date if correctly stored. To determine whether a miso is still safe to eat or not, trust your senses. Contrarily, miso soup lasts for three days in the refrigerator before becoming bad.
It may still be safe at this stage but will only be tasty when the color and flavor alter over time. Reheat the food when you’re ready to use it. The best way to preserve it is without seaweed tofu; add these toppings right before serving.
Best Miso Soup Packets
1. Miyasaka Japanese Miso Soup
The first miso soup packet is Miyasaka’s Japanese Miso Soup, which is simple to make and utterly delicious. Every package you buy will include fresh miso paste, guaranteeing that every morsel has the same high-quality miso flavor. Even better, this quick miso soup is completely devoid of saturated fats and cholesterol.
This miso soup does include soybeans; however, they are non-GMO. Along with that, it has garnish, seaweed, and tofu. Because of this, this soup is a great option for miso lovers looking for a quick, healthful meal.
Pros:
- Very quick and easy to make
- Has fresh miso paste
- No saturated fat or cholesterol
- Good added ingredients
Cons:
- A bit high in sodium for some people
2. Miyasaka Freeze Dried Authentic Miso Soup
The freeze dried authentic miso soup offered by Miyasaka is also an excellent option for getting a miso soup packet. This freeze-dried, gluten-free version of traditional miso soup is a great option for people with celiac disease. Since you receive 12 packets in each box you buy, it’s not only quite economical but also reasonably healthful.
This miso soup cooks in just a few minutes and, with one exception—the tofu that comes in the recipe—tastes fairly nice. However, this may be a good option if you can’t have gluten but still want to have delicious miso soup.
Pros:
- Has reduced sodium
- No gluten included
- Authentic miso taste
Cons:
- The tofu tastes spongy
Conclusion
Miso soup is a simple broth that may be stored in the fridge for up to three days or frozen for up to two months. It is typically made with tofu, miso paste, spring onions, wakame, and dashi. It can only last for a few hours if left outside.
The leading cause of the miso soup’s microbial infection is, thus, storing it correctly in tightly sealed containers is essential to extending its shelf life. Avoid leaving the miso soup uncovered and at room temperature to ensure it is delicious. It can also be frozen to preserve it.
I’m a mom of three, a chef, a writer, and food blogger. I live in the suburbs of New Jersey where I love to cook and bake all day long. Cooking is a form of art and a way to preserve the beauty of nature. I create an edible canvas with fresh, seasonal ingredients.